Third Tibetan self-immolation in China in a week

A woman attends an Amnesty International exhibition in Taipei on June 29, 2012 showing portraits of reported self-immolation victims in Tibetan-inhabited areas of China.

Another Tibetan has died after setting themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule over the Himalayan region.

Yesterday’s self-immolation by Sangay Gyatso, a 27-year-old father of two, means 44 Tibetans have now burned themselves to death since the protests began in February 2009, the Agence France-Presse reported.

A further 10 Tibetans have reportedly set themselves on fire but survived.

Voice of America said the latest incident happened near a monastery outside the city of Tsoe in the northwestern province of Gansu.

Before setting himself on fire, Gyatso called for "freedom of religion and language in Tibet" and the return of exiled spiritual leader Dalai Lama, the Associated Press reported.

It was the third self-immolation in a week. A 41-year-old Tibetan writer named Gudrub, who spoke out against Chinese repression of Tibet, burned himself to death on Thursday.